Methods and materials

We’re committed to excellence in teaching methods and providing the very best learning environments and materials for you. This means you’ll learn from leading teachers and scholars who are acknowledged international experts in their respective fields.

You’ll develop skills and gain experience that will be fundamental to your future career. We employ a wide variety of teaching techniques, from traditional laboratory-based work, lectures and seminars to e-learning.

How we teach

At university the way you learn may be different from at school or college. How you are taught will largely depend on your course content, level of study and your academic tutor – but, however you are taught, you will be required to undertake a large proportion of your study independently.

A stronger emphasis is placed on teaching you to apply information. This might mean being asked to answer questions where there’s no right or wrong answer, but scope for opinion and debate.

You will be encouraged to read widely, to question and analyse what you have read, and to discuss openly your own ideas in seminars and tutorials.

It is very likely, especially at undergraduate level, that you will attend regular lectures. Lectures are widely used across the University to deliver information, ideas and theories to a large number of students. Our biggest lecture theatre is located in University Place and can hold up to 600 people – lectures are usually delivered to quite large groups.

A lecture is normally a presentation or demonstration designed to give you an overview of a topic. Generally the lecturer will address the audience and you would not normally ask questions in the middle of the lecture, though there is often an opportunity for you to do so at the end.

Compared with a lecture, a seminar or tutorial involves much smaller groups of students. Similarly, the session is often led by an academic tutor or guest speaker and can involve a presentation, but the format is normally much more informal and promotes open discussion around specific topics or theories.

You will be expected to take responsibility for your own learning and you will need to manage your time effectively to fit this around your academic timetable and any other activities that you are involved in. There are plenty of study spaces on campus.

Learning by doing is an essential part of many courses, particularly if you are studying a science, engineering or health-related degree. These sessions aim to give you an insight into a working environment, knowledge of experimental methods and techniques and an understanding of academic material taught on the course.

You may be asked to work independently, in pairs or as part of a small team and for most courses, where a practical element is incorporated, you will be required to submit a piece of work which will count towards your overall result.

Fieldwork or field trips can be a compulsory element of some courses. Similar to laboratory and practical work, fieldwork can help you to put your theoretical knowledge into practice. Trips can range from one-day sessions to longer, more in-depth expeditions, in the UK and abroad, that allow you to explore specific areas or learn particular techniques.

Each course differs but you may need to pay extra for your fieldtrips, so keep this in mind when budgeting for the year. For more details see the web page for the course you are interested in.

Problem-based learning (PBL) or enquiry-based Learning (EBL) has traditionally been used by the Manchester Medical School and has now been adopted by many other disciplines across the University.

PBL or EBL groups are presented with a real-life problem or scenario and you will need to work as a team to investigate potential solutions while identifying what skills or knowledge you need to effectively manage the situation.

Depending on the type of degree you are doing, you may do a major project, which will generally be in your final year. You will normally choose, within the confines of your project, how much time to spend on it. In some cases you may be asked to give a formal presentation on the results of your project.

Many courses include online components, which can be an assessed part of your degree.

The University of Manchester has a virtual learning environment called Blackboard. This means you might study online using material created by your lecturers, download papers and take online tests, or access relevant audio and video material.

We are also creating technology-rich learning spaces across the campus, including access to the widest range of digital resources of any UK university.

On many of our undergraduate courses you'll be given the chance to get involved in research. These opportunities give you the chance to be involved in work that has real impact beyond your degree, as well as equipping you with the analytical skills that will help you take the next step - whether that's into your new career or as a continuing student.

Most courses will involve some form of continuous assessment of students. This means that marks obtained for essays, projects and laboratory work during the year are taken into account when deciding your final mark.

Examinations are probably the most important method of assessment you will face at University and knowing how to deal with them is an essential skill that you will need to develop.

Exams can be daunting, but it is important to know that there is plenty of support available to you in the run up to assessment periods.

In addition there are many other forms of assessment that you might experience, including presentations, assignments, research or portfolios.

Rewarding excellence

We recognise and reward excellent student performance. A range of prizes and bursaries, including the Manchester Medal, are presented each year to the best students.

When you graduate we’ll provide you with a comprehensive higher education record of achievement covering your entire course. Your record will identify and detail transferable life skills as well as your academic grades, to help you demonstrate the value of your learning experience to future employers.